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Be the King or Queen of your very own Castle!

Fly into Shannon and be the King and Queen of your own Irish Castle!

Authentic Irish castles are hard to come by, but this one, north of Shannon Airport, is as good as they come. Just 30 minutes' drive from the Atlantic Ocean and the new Altantic Drive around the coast of Ireland, located in the picturesque County Clare and only 20 minutes from the town of Ennis, Ballyportry Castle is a genuine late Medieval 15th century Gaelic tower house .

Sympathetically restored, this castle, sleeping 8, is ideal for multi-generational family holidays, and for those who wish to experience an authentic and spacious Irish tower house.

The ceilings contain remains of the original hazel branches, which were used to hold the plaster, and bear the impressions of the branches. The limestone walls are neither rendered nor plastered. The bathroom counter tops are of Liscannor stone, and the kitchen worktop is of Kilkenny marble. The stone floors are also of Liscannor, a rare and beautiful hardwearing stone from the locality.

Enclosed by a bawn wall, Ballyportry is placed on a rocky outcrop, which gives it extra height and grandeur, plus long distance views from the roof walk, 7 levels above ground. Moonrise behind the gentle hills of Clare and sunsets can be appreciated in quiet contemplation from on high, as cattle slowly graze the rugged pastures around small lakes and a stream murmurs quietly as it curves around reed beds below.

The castle offers great access to The Burren and is only 5 minutes away from the village of Corofin. The castle does not have Wifi, which allows guests to get totally un-connected, however, if you need a fix, Wifi is available in the National Park and Wildlife Centre in the village!

There is a large downstairs kitchen/sitting chamber on the entrance level. A stone spiral staircase ascends the castle to the principal room, a spacious Great Hall, roofed with oak trusses, which has an open fireplace and stone floor.

Dinner can be prepared for your arrival, and the fridge filled with local foods by your Guide, who will make suggestions for your exploration of the rich archaeology and amazing landscape of the surrounding Burren and the nearby Atlantic coast.

Guests appreciate returning to ‘their’ castle, seeing it from a distance as they come home to relax, eat, sleep and dream within walls built at just about the time Christopher Columbus first crossed the Atlantic to find the New World.

Heating is ducted underfloor which, along with the log burning stove in both the downstairs kitchen and the largest bedroom, makes for a cosy stay.

Ballyportry Castle comfortably sleeps 8 guests in the following accommodation:

3 bathrooms, 2 with showers. 6 bedrooms.2 kitchens.5 acres of land.

Bookings are for a minimum 3 night stay.

We would suggest that Ballyportry Castle is not suitable for very small children or for those with walking difficulties, due to the stone spiral staircase.